Stocks Remain Flat; Euro Prints Head and Shoulder Top

Thursday, February 2nd note: I just wanted to touch base with a quick note to state that I see no new developments in the market since my last post, as seen below. The market continues to be "on pause" it seems and has been in this mode for quite some time.  The general malaise in the market for the past few weeks still tells me a big move is coming soon.  And the evidence suggests that this move will be to the downside. The euro has made a new low and although the recovery was deep, it still failed to make a new high.  Now a series of lower highs are in place, which is the definition of a downtrend. Unfortunately, the moves are almost sideways and there's no follow-through to the downside at the moment.  So it doesn't give me much confidence in calling a top at the moment. I'm currently short the euro, but I wouldn't doubt a sharp new high is around the corner with the action the way it is, so I'm managing risk accordingly. I'll be back with new info as it arises.

It's tough to write new blog posts when not much has changed since the last post.  It's tempting to create drama where it doesn't exist, or to overthink simple setups.  I'll spare you from both.  This post is simply to add on to the previous post and mention the few new developments since then.

Today actually saw small spike in volume that's worth noting.  NYSE traded just over 1 billion shares which is far from jaw-dropping, but certainly strong relative to volume the past few weeks.  Unfortunately, the market closed mixed with some indices up and others down on the day.  Since this behavior is occuring at the end of an uptrend, it's reasonable to think that this indicisiveness and volume is the result of a top forming.  So we'll see.  But volume possibly re-entering the market now means we should get some moves of significant - finally.

Technical Indicators: A Love-Hate Relationship

The daily stochastic I've been talking about the past few weeks has finally started trending down.  Prices are now certainly free to follow.  This is quite an elementary indicator, but one of many in the toolbox, and I'm using it strengthen the other bearish evidence I've laid out, as well as illustrate how momentum appears to shifting to the downside.

Credit Crisis: Are We Set Up for The Perfect Storm?

There is certainly a lot of evidence for a top and reversal at any moment, and there has been for weeks in my view.  But unfortunately on a short term basis EWP does not support a top being in right now.  This is because the recent pullback looks like a 3 wave drop, and it didn't get a chance to subdivide into an impulse move since today's rally broke above the previous high, which cemented the 3 wave structure in place.  This is not a death blow to the bearish case, it's just a short term indicator that suggests a top may not be in right at this moment.  So it keeps us honest, and as always, it keeps us managing risk appropriately.

Learn Elliott Wave Principle (EWP)

And lastly, and certainly not least since this is probably the most significant development of everything I follow.  The EUR/USD appears to have formed a head and shoulders top and has broken beneath the neckline today.  The uptrend has been broken and now the bears just need a little follow-through to the downside to be even more confident that a top is in.  I've already entered a short position with a stop just above today's high.  Any rallly that stays below today's high will only get me to short more.

If the euro has topped, it's most likely entering a very bearish phase and will move sharply lower from here.  This also lends itself well to a top forming in stocks as well since the two often move in the same general direction.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS JUST AN ANALYSIS BLOG AND IN NO WAY GUARANTEES OR IMPLIES ANY PROFIT OR GAIN. THE DATA HERE IS MERELY AN EXPRESSED OPINION. TRADE AT YOUR OWN RISK.